Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

The Heaviest Corner On Earth

By Tim Carr, May 4, 2008

1. The Heaviest Corner On Earth Marker

Inscription.

The Heaviest Corner On Earth. . At the turn of the 20th century, Birmingham was a small town of two and three story buildings with a few church steeples punctuating the skyline. During the industrial boom from 1902 to 1912 which made Birmingham the largest city in the state. Four large buildings were constructed at the intersection of the City's main streets. The Woodward building (now National Bank of Commerce), constructed in 1902 on the Southwest corner, was the City's first steel-frame skyscraper. A good example of the Chicago school style of architecture, it brought a dramatic change to the vertical scale of the existing Victorian City. In 1906 the 16-story Brown Marx building rose on the Northeast corner; in 1908 an addition more than doubled its size. Long the South's largest office building, its principal tenant was United States Steel Corporation. The Empire building (1909, Northwest corner) and John A. Hand building (1912, Southeast corner), completed the "Heaviest Corner." Sheathed in marble, limestone, and terra cotta, they exemplify the more ornamental neoclassical style. Along the cornice of the Empire building (now Colonial Bank), "E's" stand for the Empire Improvement Company, which built the tower. . At the time, the height and mass of these buildings was so impressive that the intersection of First Avenue North and 20th Street was proclaimed the heaviest corner on Earth. Today these buildings represent the most significant group of early skyscrapers in the city.

At the turn of the 20th century, Birmingham was a small town of two and three story buildings with a few church steeples punctuating the skyline. During the industrial boom from 1902 to 1912 which made Birmingham the largest city in the state. Four large buildings were constructed at the intersection of the City's main streets. The Woodward building (now National Bank of Commerce), constructed in 1902 on the Southwest corner, was the City's first steel-frame skyscraper. A good example of the Chicago school style of architecture, it brought a dramatic change to the vertical scale of the existing Victorian City. In 1906 the 16-story Brown Marx building rose on the Northeast corner; in 1908 an addition more than doubled its size. Long the South's largest office building, its principal tenant was United States Steel Corporation. The Empire building (1909, Northwest corner) and John A. Hand building (1912, Southeast corner), completed the "Heaviest Corner." Sheathed in marble, limestone, and terra cotta, they exemplify the more ornamental neoclassical style. Along the cornice of the Empire building (now Colonial Bank), "E's" stand for the Empire Improvement Company, which built the tower.
At the time, the height and mass of these buildings was so impressive that the intersection of First Avenue North and 20th Street was proclaimed

By Tim Carr, February 13, 2010

2. The Heaviest Corner On Earth Marker

the heaviest corner on Earth. Today these buildings represent the most significant group of early skyscrapers in the city.

Location. 33° 30.87′ N, 86° 48.354′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of 20th Street North and 1st Avenue North (U.S. 11), on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Birmingham AL 35203, United States of America.

5. The 21-story American Trust and Savings Bank building built in 1912 (John A. Hand Building)

By Tim Carr, February 13, 2010

6. The 10-Story Woodward Building built in 1902.

By Tim Carr, February 13, 2010

7. The 16-Story Brown Marx Building built in 1906.

By Tim Carr, February 13, 2010

8. The 16-Story Empire Building built in 1909.

By Tim Carr, February 13, 2010

9. The cornice work with the letter "E" along the top of the Empire Building.

By Tim Carr, May 4, 2008

10. The ornamental work on the John A. Hand Building.

circa 1930

11. The Brown Marx, Woodward, Empire, and First National Bank Buildings...

...as seen from the Title Guarantee Building, Birmingham, Alabama

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on February 14, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,736 times since then and 2 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on February 14, 2010, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 11. submitted on October 6, 2013. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

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